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HP Urge Computer Chip Industry to Adopt Nanotechnology

by Carlo Orlando on February, 6 2007 at 08:02AM EST

Researchers at Hewlett-Packard (HP) are experimenting with the idea of integrating nanotechnology with traditional circuitry designs. Their goal is to develop a system whereby energy use will be significantly reduced, while producing even smaller devices than the models currently available on the market. (Source: lancasteronline.com)

While these developments are rather optimistic and premature, scientists believe that the benefits of nanotechnology could eventually assist a wide range of companies, such as auto makers and cellphone manufacturers. The change in technology would allow industries to build smaller products that can be constantly reprogrammed and upgraded at any time.

The concept of nanotechnology is most appealing to those who work within the computer chip industry. Computer chip makers have continued to search for ways to add more memory to their chips, while demanding higher processing output and lower energy consumption, all at an economical price. (Source: usatoday.com)

The general belief within the computer chip industry is that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit would double almost every two years in an effort to create increasingly powerful chips. This estimation is reflective of a prediction made in 1965, by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore. The prediction has since been referred to as "Moore's Law" and has remained fairly accurate for over 40 years. (Source: lancasteronline.com)

The switch to nanotechnology has produced its fair share of criticism from a number of industry analysts. These critics argue that the change in technology will undoubtedly lead to overheating and face imminent operational defects that occur when measuring in nanometers. The mathematical conversion equates 1 nanometer to 1 billionth of a meter.

Researchers have countered these concerns, saying that their innovation lies in packing the transistors tightly together on the chip, rather than shrinking the transistors themselves to fit onto a single piece of silicon. (Source: usatoday.com)

Representatives for Hewlett-Packard have agreed that perhaps the most appealing part of a switch to nanotechnology is the fact that current computer chip producing plants would only need to make minor modifications to accommodate the new technology.